Admiralty Islands

The Americans land on Pak Island without meeting any resistance. The last Japanese are rounded up on Manus Island.

Air Operations, Carolines

During the night, VII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Truk Atoll.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack rail yards at Mandalay. 1 B-24s attacks Maymyo. 13 B-24s sow mines near Mandalay and Magwe. 25 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and P-51 fighter-bombers attack fuel dumps at Indaw, Japanese Army ground troops at Lasai, and road traffic near Manhton. Several B-25s and more than 100 10th Air Force fighter-bombers attack targets in the Mogaung Valley. 11 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack rail lines in the Mandalay area and a ship at Ywataung.

• 2 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a tanker off Cape Bastion.

• More than 40 10th Air Force A-31s attack Japanese positions on both sides of the Burma-India frontier, at Imphal and Kanglatongbu (India) and Thaungdut (Burma) and Nawngpu-awng (Burma).

Air Operations, Europe

• 239 aircraft including 166 Halifaxes, 40 Lancasters, 22 Stirlings and 11 Mosquitos of Nos. 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups are sent to hit the railway yards at Lille.
• There are no losses.
• 225 aircraft including 166 Lancasters, 49 Halifaxes and 10 Mosquitos are sent to attack the railway yards at Villeneuve St Georges near Paris.
• There are no losses.

• 36 Mosquitos are sent to Mannheim, 8 to 4 other targets, 103 Lancasters of Nos. 1 and 5 Groups lay mines off Danzig, Gdynia and Pillau in the Baltic, 61 aircraft are involved in Resistance operations, and there are 16 Serrate patrols and 9 OTU sorties.
• 9 mine-laying Lancasters and 1 Serrate Mosquito are lost.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-24s and A-20s attack Boram, Cape Moem, Hansa Bay, and barges at Muschu Island and in the Wagol River. 55 B-25s attack Aitape. V Fighter Command B-25s attack Japanese Army ground troops, bridges, and barges in the Awar, Bogia, Bunabun, and Madang area.

Battle of the Atlantic

The German submarine U-515 is sunk of Madeira Island by aircraft (VC-58) from the US escort carrier 7Guadalcanal and the destroyer escorts Pillsbury (DE-133), Pope (DE-134), Flaherty (DE-135) and Chatelain (DE-149).

Burma-India

In northeast Burma the US 5307th unit occupies Nhpum Ga, which has been evacuated by the Japanese. The Chindits in northern Burma receive glider-borne reinforcements.

In India the Japanese complete the encirclement of the British IV Corps in the Imphal area. Its divisions can now only be supplied by air, a difficult task because of the approaching monsoon rains.

Eastern Front

The Bukovina region is completely occupied by the Russians.

The 4th Ukrainian Front renews its attacks against the XLIX Mountain Corps. Despite the overwhelming forces against them, the German and Rumanian divisions stand fast. To the east the Independent Coastal Army begins its own offensive from Kerch, smashing into the V Corps. Once again the German resist with steely determination, preventing a breakthrough.

The 8th Guards, 5th Shock and 6th Armies begin to attack Odessa. With only weak German and Rumanian forces opposing their advance, they take most of the city by the end of the day.

Occupied France

Giraud is appointed Inspector-General of the French Army.

Images from April 9, 1944

US Soldiers Celebrate Easter Mass in Italy, 9 April 1944

9 April 1944: Victoria Cross as the Siege of Kohima begins. British infantrymen use a dismounted tank machine gun at Kohima.

Siege of Kohima Begins

U-515 Crewmen Climb Aboard USS Pope, 9 April 1944

USS Pope (DE-134) Rescues Survivors of U-boat U-515 after it was sunk by USS Chatelain (DE-149), 9 April 1944